Borsch Day

Saturday, 9 June

We are coming to the realization that we’ll be leaving soon, which is met with both anticipation and panic. We’re not too worried about the “We’re gonna be parents” thing…that’s settling in well. The panic is actually related to shopping for souvenirs and packing them for the trip home. The chances are good that we’ll never be in Ukraine again, so we feel compelled to bring home the entire country in our suitcases.

Mark went out first thing this morning for another pass through a shopping area near our apartment. He found several things he wanted, and at least one he didn’t! A few days ago, he purchased some small items from a shop, and as he was gesticulating wildly to communicate what he needed without actually using any words, the woman looked at him and asked “Do you speak English?” He let out a huge sigh of relief and proceeded to get what he needed.

When he returned this morning, she was ready for him. She stopped him to chat, showed photos of her son, and explained that she had taught English in a small village for 6 years until they couldn’t afford to pay her anymore. As he started to leave, she begged “Oh, don’t go! Please stay.” Thinking she was just anxious to practice her English more, he chatted a little longer…until she saw his ring and exclaimed (with great disappointment) “Oh! You are married!”

He confirmed this, and she thought for a second or two, and then asked “Well, is your wife here with you?” Umm…and that would change WHAT? My wonderful husband then bid her farwell and returned to me. We’ve all been laughing at the story all day!

At 10, our driver picked us up and drove us the short ride into the town center. He dropped us off at the café (which is called Kaba +). The waitress recognized me as soon as we walked in, and had a cappuccino on our table in very short order. We reviewed our plan for the day until a young man walked up and asked us (in English) where we were from. Turns out that he is from Ukraine, but has been living in Ireland for the past two years. He and his girlfriend were here visiting his father.

We walked up through the park in the center of town. Since the weather was beautiful (again), Mark got several more photos of key spots as we strolled. We wandered to the mall next to Vivat Time, and found some more souvenirs before we walked back to Lisa’s apartment to meet up.

About to gnaw our own arms off, we bummed a snack off of Lisa before the driver and Kseniya arrived. Then we picked the girls up and drove to Amstor to get groceries. Today was Borsch Day! Kseniya had kindly agreed to come to our apartment and cook Ukrainian borsch for all of us. She also brought her DVD player so that we could let the girls watch a movie while we cooked.

We thought we were in for multiple meltdowns in Amstor; all three girls were getting a little edgy. Masha was demanding every item in the grocery store, including more fruit than anyone could possibly eat in a week. We got six apples of various colors, a bunch of bananas, an orange, and a peach. She was annoyed that I wouldn’t also buy strawberries and kiwis. We kept reminding her this was for *one afternoon,* but she was getting a little cranky, and so was Khrystyna. Even good-natured Amina was acting kinda tired, so we got through the checkout as quickly as possible, and headed back to the apartment.

Mark took the girls up in the elevator first, and Lisa, Kseniya, and I followed…we barely fit in the elevator in two groups. Mark set up the DVD player and showed Masha the videos that we had gotten for her. She was ecstatic when she saw the Barbie “Princess and the Pauper” movie that she had watched when she was in the US last summer, and she got the other girls to agree to watch it with her.

Meanwhile, Kseniya kicked it into high gear in the tiny kitchen. She found everything she was searching for, including the most bizzarre can opener I’ve ever seen, and she quickly had the borsch cooking. Lisa and I took detailed notes so that we can recreate it at home, and we all had a great time. The borsch was delicious! Masha, who claimed to not like borsch, ate some; Khrystyna and Amina, who claimed to like it, chose not to eat it. Hmmm…

Too soon, our time was up, and two cars were waiting outside our apartment. We dropped the girls back at the orphanage, and us at the internet café where I fixed the blog posts that were just going up as the power had gone out the other night…When we got back home, I had another bowl of borsch and went to bed.

Planning Update: We’ve learned that we cannot pick up Masha’s paperwork until Tuesday morning…we’ve been told that the last day of the 10-day waiting period must be a business day. So we’ll be leaving for the region capital on Tuesday morning and to Kiev on the train Tuesday night. Our facilitator Sasha (not Driver Sasha – it’s confusing) still thinks there’s a chance that we can get everything done in Kiev on Wednesday and get a flight on Thursday, but I’m not so sure about that….keep praying for us!